A SURVEY OF THE BIBLE
(“The Book of Esther”)
Esther 2:8-17; 3:1-6; 4:1-17 (NASU)
THE UNSEEN HAND OF THE UNNAMED GOD
(1) Do you believe God is at work in YOUR life?1 And if so, do you think He ever uses YOU to alter events in ways that impact other peoples’ lives? If you believe that, then my next question is: How does He do it?
(2) I suspect many Christians believe God is working in them and through them – at least to some extent. I would also guess that most of the time they don’t see what God is doing in them and through them until after the fact – that for the most part, His sovereign hand remains hidden while events are unfolding – and that it’s only after they look back, that they are able to see how He guided their steps (and used them to alter events) to bring about His purposes for them (as well as His purposes for others, through them).
(3) Commentators will tell you (and rightly so) that God is never mentioned by name in the Book of Esther – nor do any of the book’s characters ever allude to Him. What’s more, there are no overt miracles or supernatural events2 to suggest that there is a God – or, that He is somehow involved in the affairs of men and nations. For example, no one is healed of leprosy (c.f. II Kings 5:1-14), or raised from the dead (c.f. Luke 7:14-15) – there are no Red Seas being parted (c.f. Exodus 14), or fiery furnace survival stories (c.f. Daniel 3). No one gets bit by a poisonous snake and survives (c.f. Acts 28:3-6) – no one walks on water (c.f. Matthew 14:25-32) – no one gets swallowed by a great fish, and lives to tell about it (c.f. Jonah 1:17-2:10).
(4) Nothing out of the ordinary happens in the Book of Esther. To be sure, several of the main characters do some stupid, sinful things – but there’s nothing unusual about that. On the whole, what we read about is pretty common so far as life in a fallen world is concerned – there’s a drunken party – a battle of the sexes – a beauty pageant – corrupt government officials – various displays of arrogance, pride, and anger – treachery and deceit, murderous intentions, irony and retribution – just the kind of stuff that goes on in the world today.
(5) AND YET, as one reads the Book of Esther, and reflects on how all the various events described therein came to unfold, it becomes apparent to anyone with “eyes to see” (c.f. Matthew 13:16) that God’s providential hand is everywhere,3 working all things after the counsel of His own will (c.f. Ephesians 1:11) – including a royal marriage that goes wrong (c.f. Esther 1) – a beauty contest designed to satisfy the wounded pride of a pagan king (c.f. Esther 2) – a rags to riches story, where an unknown Jewish girl becomes the Queen of Persia (c.f. Esther 2) – a thwarted assassination plot, that initially goes unrewarded (c.f. Esther 2) – and even a king’s insomnia (c.f. Esther 6).4 God weaves all these things (and more!) together to save His covenant people from annihilation, even though He is never mentioned directly by name – not even once! Nor does He ever show His hand (as it were) in a way that would make us think the world of natural laws, and human freedom, and ordinary events has been superceded!
(6) But, isn’t that how God works in your life and mine most of the time? – i.e. through very ordinary looking events? Even when He chooses to use us to alter circumstances that will have an impact on our life or the lives of others, doesn’t He usually do it without suspending the laws that govern the natural course of our existence? I’m not saying God no longer works in miraculous or supernatural ways – all I’m just saying is, that more often than not, our experience is similar to that of Esther and Mordecai – in that, the God who can and has parted the Red Sea and raised the dead, doesn’t usually choose to do those kinds of things – that ordinarily, the way He works in us and through us is the same way He worked in the Book of Esther – i.e. behind the scenes (as it were), in ways that can only be observed after the fact.5
A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF ESTHER
(1) The Book of Esther takes its name from its principle female character6 – and is, of course, one of only two books in the Bible named after a woman – the other being the Book of Ruth.7 Other principle characters, in the order of their appearance in the story, are “King Ahasuerus” (c.f. Esther 1:1-2), ruler of the Persian Empire – “Queen Vashti” (c.f. Esther 1:10-12), who loses her crown, and is replaced by Esther – “Mordicai”, a relative of Esther’s, who raised her as his own daughter after her parents died (c.f. Esther 2:5-7) – and “Haman … the Agagite”, who turns out to be the villain of the story (c.f. Esther 3:1).
(2) No one knows who the author of the Book of Esther was. Some have suggested Ezra, or Nehemiah – since the events described took place during their lifetimes. Others have suggested Mordecai. But the bottom line is that no one knows. Most commentators do agree, however, that whoever the author was, he was very familiar with the customs and culture of the ancient Persian Empire – and may even have been an eyewitness to the events he writes about.8
(3) One of the primary purposes of the Book of Esther is to explain the origin of the festival of Purim – one of two festivals not established by the Mosaic Law, that Jews still celebrate today (the other being Hanukkah).9 How Purim came to be a national holiday for the Jewish people is described in chapter nine (c.f. Esther 9).
A more important purpose, of special interest to all God’s covenant people (be they Jews or Gentiles), is how God is able to providentially protect His chosen people10 – which is a theme we spoke of moments ago. The placement of the right people, in the right place, at the right moment – along with the exact timing of various events (both great and small) – all designed to thwart Haman’s wicked plan to exterminate Abraham’s descendants – all combine to give us confidence in God’s ability to take care of those of us who are His covenant people today (c.f. Galatians 3:6-9) (individually, if it pleases Him to do so – but certainly as a collective body), regardless of how dark or hopeless the situation may be. Hence, Jesus told His disciples that “the gates of Hades” would never “prevail” against His “church” (c.f. Matthew 16:18, NKJV).
(4) The Book of Esther fills an important gap in the biblical record – in part because it’s the only book in the Old Testament that gives us a glimpse into what life was like for those of God’s exiled covenant people who chose not to return to the land of Judah when given an opportunity to do so11 – who chose to remain where they were, instead of going back to the land of promise to help rebuild the temple, and rebuild the walls around Jerusalem. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah – and to some extent prophetic books like Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi – tell us about the people who returned from exile. Esther, however, is the only book that tells us anything about the people who stayed.
(5) The Book of Esther also tells about an attempt to exterminate God’s covenant people, that is never spoken of anywhere else in Scripture. Moreover, since this threat affected Jews living in EVERY province of the Persian Empire (c.f. Esther 3:7-13), had it been successful, even God’s covenant people living in back Judah would have been killed – people like Ezra, and Nehemiah, and Zerubbabel – and prophets like Haggai, and Zechariah, and Malachi.
Had this extermination plot been successful, Abraham’s line would have come to an end – and with it all God’s covenant promises about a coming Messiah. David’s line would have come to an end – and with it all God’s covenant promises about a coming King. The threat, then, did not simply have national ramifications – it had spiritual and eternal ramifications – for had Haman been successful, God’s plan to send a Savior would have been thwarted, and you and I would still be lost in our sins, with no hope of ever being redeemed!
(6) Finally, by way of a general introduction, it’s helpful to understand why Haman’s hatred for Mordecai extended to all God’s covenant people.
Initially Haman’s hatred centered solely on Mordecai, because he would not “bow down and pay him the homage” he believed he deserved because of his high position in the Persian Empire (c.f. Esther 3:1-5). When others asked Mordecai to explain why he was so unwilling to show Haman the respect his office called for (c.f. Esther 3:2), he said it was because “he was a Jew” (c.f. Esther 3:4). When Haman learned Mordecai was a Jew, his hatred for one man exploded into a murderous plot to “destroy all Jews everywhere” (c.f. Esther 3:6).
The reason for this mutual animosity goes back almost one thousand years,12 to the time of the Exodus. As God’s people were traveling through the wilderness, we’re told the people of Amalek (who were descendants of Esau, and also Haman’s ancestors) came out to fight against Israel. Afterwards, God told Moses: 14“… ‘I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.’ 15(So) Moses built an altar … 16and … said, ‘The Lord has sworn; the Lord will have war against Amalek from generation to generation’” (c.f. Exodus 17:8-16).
Later, in the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses told God’s covenant people: 17“Remember what Amalek did to you along the way when you came out from Egypt, 18how he met you … and attacked … the stragglers at your rear when you were faint and weary; AND … DID NOT FEAR GOD. 19Therefore it shall come about when the Lord your God has given you rest from all your surrounding enemies, in the land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; YOU MUST NOT FORGET” (c.f. Deuteronomy 28:17-19).
Now fast forward several hundred years, to the time of King Saul. God told him: 2“I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt. 3Now go and strike Amalek and UTTERLY DESTROY all that he has, and DO NOT SPARE HIM; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey’” (c.f. I Samuel 15:2-3). But, Saul didn’t do what he was told – choosing instead to spare the king of the Amalekites, whose name was Agag (c.f. I Samuel 15:9) (Remember, Haman is referred to five times in the Book of Esther as “Haman the Agagite” – which implies he was a descendant of Agag) (c.f. Esther 3:1, 10; 8:3, 5; 9:24). Samuel eventually hacked Agag to pieces (c.f. I Samuel 15:32-33) – but apparently, at least one of his offspring escaped death.
The point is, that both Haman the Agagite and Mordecai the Jew carried a deep hostility toward each other’s respective peoples – Mordecai, because of God’s oath to blot out the Amalekites – and Haman, because of what the Jews did to his people and to King Agag during the reign of Saul. God had sworn to blot out the Amalekites – so Haman decided to try and blot out the Jews. In the end, however, it was Haman and his ten sons whose lives and name were blotted out (c.f. Esther 7:10; 9:6-10) – thereby (perhaps?) finally putting an end to the line of Amalek, just as God swore to do.
(C) A BRIEF LOOK AT ESTHER’S STORY
(1) So far tonight we’ve said very little about Esther, who is the heroine of the book that bears her name. So, in the time we have left, let’s try and summarize her story – and draw a few lessons from it.
We’re going to skip over chapter one, which tells us about how the position of Queen of Persia came to be open (c.f. Esther 1) – and go straight to chapter two, which tells us how Esther came to fill that position.
There are those who criticize Esther for taking part in the beauty contest to find a new queen for King Ahasuerus. I for one, however, don’t think she (or any of the other young ladies involved) had much of a choice. I doubt that the king’s men went around asking pretty girls: “Would you like to try out for the position of queen?” On the contrary, verse eight says, “Esther WAS TAKEN to the king’s palace” (c.f. Esther 2:8) – indeed, one of the connotations of the Hebrew word used here is that of being “caught, or captured, or seized”.13
Sometimes God’s covenant people find themselves engulfed by circumstances over which they have no control – circumstances they would never have chosen for themselves – but have been chosen for us by Almighty God, for reasons we cannot even begin to understand at the time. We’re not told whether or not Esther prayed to be delivered from this situation – but hindsight indicates that even if she had, the answer would have been “no” – because God had a plan that involved putting her in a position (she would never have otherwise been in) to be used by Him to save His covenant people!
Once Esther was taken to the king’s palace she immediately “finds favor” with the king’s servant, who has been put in charge of the “contestants” – and who essentially does everything he can to help her become the next queen (c.f. Esther 2:9-15).
To make a long story short, when it’s Esther’s turn to “meet the king” (so to speak), we’re told that she “finds favor” with him – so that he makes her his queen. Throughout this whole process, Esther never tells anyone that she is a Jew (c.f. Esther 2:16-20). (By the way, all this “finding favor” is by Divine design.)
(2) In chapter four, Mordecai makes Queen Esther aware of Haman’s plot to exterminate all the Jews living throughout the Persian Empire – and then orders her to “go in to the king and implore his favor and … plead with him for her people” (c.f. Esther 4:8).
This is no small request – because Persian law states that anyone who approaches the king, without first being summoned by him, will be put to death – UNLESS the king extends his “golden scepter” (in which case, their life will be spared). To make matters worse, the king has not ask to see Esther for a month – which is not a good sign (c.f. Esther 4:11).
Then comes the key verse of the book – which is also probably the best known verse – where Mordecai tells Esther (in verse fourteen): “… if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. AND WHO KNOWS WHETHER YOU HAVE NOT ATTAINED ROYALTY FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?” (c.f. Esther 4:14).
As it turns out, this moment is exactly the reason why Esther has “attained royalty” – so she would be in a position to speak up for her people to the King of Persia, and have him listen – so she could be used by God to bring about “relief and deliverance” for His covenant people!
And so, in chapter five, Esther risks her life by approaching the king without being summoned first – whereupon he immediately extends his golden scepter and receives her into his presence, while also promising to grant her request no matter what it is (c.f. Esther 5:1-3). And from there, the rest of the book tells us about how Haman’s evil plot to annihilate the Jews is thwarted – and Haman ends up dead instead.
(3) Esther is a type of Christ14 – in this regard, that just as she laid her life on the line to save her people from extinction, so Jesus died to “save His people from their sins” (c.f. Matthew 1:21). She’s also a type of Christ in regard to His work as our Advocate – for whereas she pleaded for her people before King Ahasuerus, Scripture says that, “if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (c.f. I John 2:1), who pleads our case (as it were) before the throne of God.
(4) Finally, although the word “covenant” is never used in the Book of Esther – nor are there even any passing references to some aspect of God’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants – as one writer says, “what appears (on the surface) to be blind coincidence is, in fact, God providentially fulfilling His covenant promises to His chosen people.”15
For example, back in Genesis chapter twelve God told Abraham: “… I will bless those who bless you, and THE ONE WHO CURSES YOU I WILL CURSE” (c.f. Genesis 12:3). What happened to Haman (as described in the Book of Esther) is best understood as a fulfillment of that particular aspect of God’s covenant promise to His people!
God also told Abraham: “ … in you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (c.f. Genesis 12:3) – which is ultimately a reference to the coming of a Savior, whom we know to be Jesus. In this regard, then, one study bible makes the same point I made earlier, saying that: “the Book of Esther is part of a much larger story that runs all the way from Abraham to Christ and, through Him, to the church. If Haman had succeeded, the Jewish people as a whole would have been destroyed, and the story of God’s saving work in and through Abraham’s descendants (and one descendant in particular) (c.f. Galatians 3:16) would have come to an end. There would have been no fulfillment in Christ, and therefore no gospel and no Christian church. Nothing less than that was at stake. That’s why Christians should read the Book of Esther, not just as a story about the Jews, but as part of our own heritage”16 (even the story of our own survival as God’s covenant people).
1Life Change Series: Ruth & Esther; NavPress; p. 71.
2Bloomfield: The Guide – Esther; p. 10.
3Duguid: Esther & Ruth; p. xi.
4Bloomfield: Ibid; p. 11.
5Duguid: Ibid; p. 5.
6Unger: Commentary on the Old Testament; Vol. I; p. 653.
7MacArthur: Ruth & Esther; p. 45.
8The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament; p. 700.
9MacArthur: The MacArthur Bible Commentary; pgs. 553-554.
10Ryken: Ryken’s Bible Handbook; p. 207.
11Bloomfield: Ibid; p. 12.
12MacArthur: Ibid; p. 554.
13BCS: Strong’s Concordance; Word #3947.
14Boa: Talk Thru the Old Testament; p. 104.
15Mathison: From Age to Age (The Unfolding of Biblical
Eschatology); p. 113.
16The English Standard Study Bible: Introduction to Esther;
p. 851.